sexual harassment in Cusco
Replies: 21 - Last Post: Jul 2, 2012 1:00 PM Last Post By: beerfree
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sexual harassment in Cusco
So my girlfriend was sexually harassed right in front of me three times (in two days) in Cusco, in between plaza de San Francisco and Armas. I'm really hard to offend, and the first two times were harmless and laughable, but the third time was definitely pushing it.I've been to many different countries, but it's my first time in South America. Is this pretty commonplace or did we just have bad luck? No problems at all in Lima.
I was furious and didn't really know how to react. The last thing I wanted was to get into a fight in a city I am unfamiliar with. The guy was also heavily tattooed and looked like he crawled out of a dumpster. We just kept walking. I guess I could've told an officer if I wanted to, but my Spanish is a bit shaky.
Anyone have similar experiences or advice on how to deal with this while in South America? Thanks.
1
Was this crass comments, or physical contact?If its all verbal, usually the best thing to do is ignore it. If it was physical contact, then you probably should have reported it to the police, and/or asked your place of lodging assist you in reporting the problem if you feel like language barriers might be a problem. Also if possible, try to take a picture of the offender (obviously don't do it in an obvious way so it doesn't trigger violence).
3
"crass comments" has nothing to do with "sexual harassment", at least not in the understanding of society that lacks paranoid political correctness. You are mistaking the terms, but this is common.Was the guy talking about ass/tits (whatever) of you gf that make you furious? Actually it's not common in Andean culture, but Cuzco today is rather tourist melting pot with different individuals.
You want real harassment sent your girl alone to India, where it is common for bunch of guys to slab white girls in asses and touch their tits.
What you have described is typical macho culture, once again not really common in Andean countries, but present among continent. If you cannot handle with it and change it into a joke (or at least be smarter than the attacker) you should change the travel destination.
I'm sorry if it sounds polite, but 3 times in two days sounds either you had a very bad luck or you are simply hypersensitive. Where about you are from if I may ask?
Also if possible, try to take a picture of the offender
Perfect advice...and what was he suppose to do with this picture, put it to family album or go to police and try to convince offered that guys saying he want to have a sexy time with his girlfriend offended his feelings and now he is seeking for a compensation?
I'm sure local boys in uniforms would have a good laugh for a week.
4
I mentioned that I am not easy to offend. I also mentioned that the first two times were harmless and laughable, so I do not feel that I am being hypersensitive/insecure. We initially joked about it. It was only the third time that was a problem, and I do not need to state what was said verbatim. Let's just say it was a crude comment followed by a very nasty insult. I felt my anger was justified. And I'm very aware of how much worse it can be in other countries, "where it is common for bunch of guys to slab white girls in asses and touch their tits". I don't know if you're making assumptions, but my girl is Filipina, and dark-skinned.I'm also from Miami, and I live in Little Havana. It's common to see grown men blow kisses at 15 year old girls, so the Macho culture is not alien to me. I'm just in a country that I'm unfamiliar with, and simply wanting to hear some other perspectives.
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You should quote what they've said instead of making us to guess. Then I might tell you this is a common things or rather a bad luck. If it wasn't typical sexual remark in culturally accepted manner you had full right to be angry and kick the crap out of the guy if you felt than it will solve the problem, but then you should know it could happen in middle of Rome or New York and has nothing to do with mentality in South America.I don't know if you're making assumptions, but my girl is Filipina, and dark-skinned.
I'm not making any assumptions, I'm just saying how is it done in India. Asian girl would not face this interest there. They really like white chicks there and they think all of them are whores....
Sad but true.
I'm also from Miami, and I live in Little Havana. It's common to see grown men blow kisses at 15 year old girls, so the Macho culture is not alien to me. I'm just in a country that I'm unfamiliar with, and simply wanting to hear some other perspectives.
That was a vital question to give you an answer. And the answer is: it's uncommon and you had bad luck, being from Miami you should know mentality of the South. It has nothing to do with it, whatever happen guy was just a dick.
Cuzco is not a perfect example of Peruvian hospitality either, walking-ATM-experience and similar things are also part of experience there. My advise is to stay positive, other places in Peru and South America are much more friendly.
7
I would consider crass comments to be sexual harassment. Luckily I didn't understand most of what people said to me in South America - I think most of it was harmless but I wouldn't be surprised if a little of it was offensive.Anyway just ignore them, there's nothing else you can do
8
Comments aimed at women in the street can vary from the relatively innocent to the very unpleasant and I think you came across the latter. The worst sort can be very upsetting. The idea is usually not so much to insult your gf but to provoke you into a fight. In all cases you do what you did, ignore and move on - no eye contact, no dirty looks, just move on.These things are just impossible to make a formal complaint about and you probably wouldn't get much sympathy from the police, who would likely think you just a jealous type.
11
The OP should have said in the post it was 'just' words not starting 'mygirlfriend was sexualy harrassed in front of me' it sounds much worse and sickening than it actually isI appreciate words are not nice but ignore it, this happens everywhere in the world because there are scumbags everywhere
